The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-01-05
NOT BECAUSE HE WAS HONEST.


It is generally understood by this
time that General John A. Logan dice
q comparatively poor man. 1t is true
he left some valuable property in Chi
cago and magnificent house in Wash
ington, but all is heavily mortgaged.
Unless the nation goes to her relief
with a pension, or private citizens con-
tribute TO her support, the noble widow
will be an object of charity, a thing
which ought not to happen. She
should be handsomely provided for,
and her rem aiming years made to pass
in the enjoyment of all the pleasures
which money can provide, Like that
of her husband her life has been devoted
to her country's good; common repute
credits her with supplying much of the
brain power and intellectual force
which won for Logon such fame and
favor; with doing much to make him a
prominent figure in the affairs of the
nation. Too much cannot be done
for this brave and grand woman dur.
ing the few years left to her on earth.
Let everything in reason that can be
done for her be done, and let it not be
done grudgingly, but in way to make
her feel that grateful people and a
thoughtful nation understand the obi
cations they are under to her and to
him just laid to rest after long life
spent in the cause of the republic.
But there is one feature about this
business we do not like to see, and
which ought to be discouraged. Logan's
poverty is being lauded, because it is
held to indicate his honesty, and his
honesty is put forth as something
which calls for the bestowing of re-
ward upon his widow. General Logan
was undoubtedly an honest man; there
has never been an intimation that he
was corrupt; the bribe-giver never
reached him, and his high offices were
never used for unlawful gain. But his
poverty was not due to his honesty, or
if it were our official practices
and theories are all wrong, and RADICAL
changes should be at once inaugurated.
II an officials honesty is to be guaged
by his poverty, the governmental
system is bad, and ought to be reformed.
TO say that at his death he was poor is
evidence of Logan's honesty in lif
IS to charge every Senator or Repre-
sentative who dies rich with corruption.
Logan's hands were not soiled by i'm
proper gain; his vote was never sold for
cash, and his influence was not exer-
cised for money and the same can be
said of scores and hundreds OF men who
left thousands and millions of dollars
a their death. It'll not because Logan
was honest that his widow should be
provided for. If it has come 10 this
that corruption in high places is so
common that honesty must be
rewarded with money gifts, the
American community is in a truly
deplorable condition. If honest men In
Congress are so scarce that when one is
discovered We must reward him with
wealth and care for those dependent on
hing it is time for the Inauguration of
reform that shall begin by the erection
of a wall with barred gates around the.
Capitol, and the providing of balls and
chains for the men Who are making
laws for the nation. There may be cor
ruption in Congress, but there is no
such general dishonesty as is implied
by this eternal showing to the front of
General Logan's probity as being some
thing so rare in Congress as to demand
popular attention and loud plaudits.
Honesty is not so rare a virtue in Con-
gressmen as to make its discovery
matter for national comment; and we
hope the time has not yet come when
corruption is so prevalent that we have
to put premium on honesty. 1t looks
better and is better to put dishonesty
under ban and accept honesty as the
rule and as matter of course.
Let Mrs, Logan be provided for hand.
somely by liberal pension from the
national treasury, and by popular con-
tributions to the fund being raised in
her behalf; but do not give her any
thing as a reward for her husba nd's
official honesty and integrity. care
for her because her husband gave his
life TO his country, and was so little
skilled in the art of money gathering,
that he could not make provision for
her after he had gone.
THE GossIPs of Washington are pro-
FocSiDO Themselves bOrri6ad ovar 4bo